Land deals for Kenya, TZ powerline starts

Monday, April 24, 2017 19:39

By NEVILLE OTUKI

The 96-kilometre interconnector line will have a capacity to transfer 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity in either direction. file photo | nmg

Kenya has started buying land from private owners to construct a high voltage power line connecting to Tanzania that will allow bulk electricity trade with southern Africa nations including South Africa.

The National Land Commission (NLC) published a notice with the intention to acquire the wayleave corridor for the transmission line running from Isinya substation in Kajiado to the border town of Namanga.

The 96-kilometre interconnector line will have a capacity to transfer 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity in either direction.

“The commission gives notice that the government intends to acquire wayleave corridor on parcels of land for the construction of Isinya–Kajiado–Namanga 132 kV and Kenya–Tanzania 400 kV transmission lines on behalf of the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (Ketraco),” reads a gazette notice dated April 21.

Kenya last October awarded the contract to North China Power Engineering Company Ltd (NCPE) to construct the line.

The country plans to use the line to link up with the Southern African power pool comprising Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique for power exchange.

The line will be jointly financed by Kenyan government (Sh439.4 million) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) which will offer Sh2.3 billion ($22.4 million). Construction will take 22 months.